Who Provides NDIS Plan Management with Choice and Contol in Australia?
Registered plan managers, including First2Care, can handle the financial administration of your plan managed funding while you choose your support providers. Choice and control apply whether your funding is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed. However, your provider options depend on your funding-management arrangement and the registration requirements for each support. Your funding must also be used for NDIS supports in line with your plan.
WHAT DOES CHOICE AND CONTROL MEAN UNDER THE NDIS?
Choice and control means having a say in who supports you and how you use your funding within your plan’s requirements. It applies across all three funding-management options, although the options differ in who handles payments and financial records. ​
DOES PLAN MANAGEMENT INCREASE MY PROVIDER CHOICE?
Compared with NDIA-managed funding, plan-managed funding usually gives you a broader choice of providers. With NDIA-managed funding, you must use registered providers. With plan-managed funding, you can usually use registered or unregistered providers, subject to the requirements for the support.​ Some recent rule changes outlined in the NDIS reforms have some guidelines around which providers need to be registered. You can read about this on the NDIS website.
CAN I CHOOSE AN UNREGISTERED PROVIDER?
Usually, yes, for supports that do not require a registered provider. Some supports have mandatory registration requirements, including specialist behaviour supports, plan management and specialist disability accommodation. Supported independent living also has registration requirements, with transitional arrangements explained by the NDIS Commission. ​
CAN MY PLAN MANAGER TELL ME WHICH PROVIDER TO USE?
No. Choosing your providers is your decision. Your plan manager handles financial administration rather than taking over your provider choices. However, your plan manager must check that claims align with your plan, budget and NDIS support requirements.
Yes. You can change providers during your plan. Check your service agreement first for the notice period, cancellation terms and any outstanding payments. ​The NDIA recommends finding a new provider before finishing up with your current provider to avoid a gap in support. Tell your plan manager or support coordinator about the change, and check whether relevant portal relationships or service bookings need updates.
Yes. If your funding is already plan-managed, you can change plan managers at any time. Check your current service agreement for notice and handover arrangements before making the change. ​If your funding is self-managed or NDIA-managed, requesting plan management is a different process. You can ask the NDIA to change your funding-management arrangement during your current plan, but the NDIA must agree before updating it.
The First2Care Approach
First2Care focuses on plan management rather than delivering therapy, support coordination, personal support, or accommodation services. Our role is to help with the financial administration of your plan-managed supports while your provider choices remain yours, within your plan’s requirements.
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If you would like to understand how First2Care can help, contact our team to discuss your plan management needs.